Coping during kidnapping – a guide for families

Having a family member kidnapped can be a frightening experience. This guide offers support, information and advice on how to cope – from the moment you are notified of the kidnap to how to prepare for the return home. It highlights key areas including what to expect from those involved in the response, supporting yourself and affected children, how to manage social media accounts.

Our guides are accessible online, downloadable or available in hard copy. Contact us if you would like a hard copy or if you need specific guidance relating to an arbitrary detention. Email: [email protected]

Government assistance to their nationals and policies towards kidnapping groups

Information on the type of support governments can provide to their nationals in the wake of a kidnap incident can usually be found on the foreign affairs department website.

How to report a kidnap and where to go for help

If you need to raise the alarm about the kidnap of someone outside of their home country, you should contact their government’s consular body immediately.

Media organisations

Responsible interview techniques for the media You can learn more about organisational responsibilities, family liaison and the experiences of hostages and their families through our training and education programme.

Information on Kidnapping

There is very little information available about kidnapping because it is a crime that is often unreported in the media and academics struggle to get access to former hostages and their families to conduct research.